Re: [Phys-L] physics with and/or without calculators

[Bernard Cleyet <bernardcleyet@redshift.com>]

On 2013, Dec 19, , at 09:24, Todd K. Pedlar <todd.pedlar@luther.edu> wrote:

> It is certainly hard to change the culture and to thwart their expectations
> that they can use calculators on an exam.  That said, I have become
> convinced that calculators are an awful crutch that disables many students,
> preventing them from growing significantly in their mathematical
> understanding.
>
> It may be hard, but helping students grow up and leave the cradle is
> something we as educators need to be willing to do.  If my students whine
> about having to give algebraic rather than numerical answers to test
> problems, I generally tell them that they can find some other course to
> take.


I think that’s a bit harsh.  AND in eighth grade (ca 1951) I was given a circular slide rule (still have it).  As a result I only many years later memorized the usual times table —still must think.  (tho I did for 2^n, a result of radiation scalers! ca 1957)

I had (have) a linear one by which I’d make semi log-graphs until I acquired a collection of graphing paper.

bc remembers seeing a many place rule in a basement at Caltech where a friend showed me his Mitchel-Cavendish g experiment. (ca 1956)